Fewer Female Students Opt For High-Tech Careers

April 12, 2000

A new study reveals that girls avoid high-tech careers -- not because they think the work too challenging -- but because they see it as boring and anti-social. The study, "Tech-Savvy: Educating Girls in the New Computer Age," comes from the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation.

Women now receive less that 28 percent of computer science bachelor degrees -- down from 37 percent in 1984.

"They are not phobic about computer technology but disenchanted by it," explains Pamela Haag, the foundation's research director.

In the absence of role models such as "a female Bill Gates," Haag says, there is a persistent "computer geek" stereotype that many girls want to steer clear of.

The report recommends a variety of improvements in everything from computer games to teacher training, so as to attract more women to high-tech professions.

A similar report released by the foundation two years ago found that while girls were closing in on boys in math and science performance, wide disparities existed in technology use.